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Legendary NASCAR Driver Takes Shot At FOX's Coverage

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 3:15 PM ET

When Richard Petty speaks, NASCAR fans listen. And after some of his latest comments on FOX's broadcast coverage, the sport may want to heed his suggestions.

The 87-year-old and his son, Kyle, joined the network's booth during Sunday's Goodyear 400 at Darlington where the Hall of Famer made his thoughts clear on the job Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick had been doing calling the race.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty visited the @NASCARONFOX booth during Sunday's broadcast at @TooToughToTame and said what fans have been saying about the coverage for years. pic.twitter.com/necXO7HT2t
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) April 6, 2025

"Thank you. It's been interesting watching y'all try to operate up here," Petty said on-air.

"I don't know what race you guys are watching," he continued. "The big deal is, when I'm sitting here and see what I see on the TV and the race is really back about 15th or 20th, them guys, they drive their fanny off every lap. I mean, they're really racing back there, but you know, if you're here you can see that. You can't see it on TV."

Joy played off the criticism with a smile, telling the audience their crew tries to "get back there as much as we can… but you're right, if you wanna see it all, come by a ticket."

Seemingly every weekend NASCAR fans call out FOX for how it treats its Cup Series races — only covering the front of the pack and making it seem like just a handful of cars are racing.

But there's a lot more going on than that and good on Petty for being unafraid to call that out.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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